Who qualifies
Medicare Part A and/or Part B covers home health care when all of these are true:
- You need part-time or intermittent skilled services, such as nursing or therapy.
- You're homebound.
- A doctor or other allowed provider sees you in person, confirms you need home health care, and orders it under a plan of care.
- A Medicare-certified home health agency provides the care.
What's covered and what you pay
| Service | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Part-time skilled nursing (wound care, injections, IV therapy, monitoring) | Nothing |
| Physical, occupational and speech-language therapy | Nothing |
| Medical social services | Nothing |
| Part-time home health aide, while you get skilled care | Nothing |
| Durable medical equipment (walkers, hospital beds) | 20% after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) |
Before giving you services Medicare won't cover, the agency should give you an Advance Beneficiary Notice explaining what you'd owe.
What Medicare doesn't cover
- 24-hour care at home.
- Meal delivery.
- Homemaker services, like shopping or cleaning, that aren't part of your care plan.
- Personal or custodial care, such as bathing and dressing, when it's the only care you need.
Help with personal care in Oregon
That last gap is where Oregon programs come in. ODHS says in-home care can be short- or long-term, and Medicaid (the Oregon Health Plan) pays for long-term care at home for people who qualify. Oregon Project Independence offers in-home help for people 60 and older, or any age with Alzheimer's or a related disorder, who aren't on Medicaid, with fees on a sliding scale. Call ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities, the state aging and disability agency, at 1-855-673-2372. See What is Oregon Project Independence?
Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care too, usually through network agencies. Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or fitness. Extra benefits vary by plan and county, may have limits and costs, and not every plan offers them. Check a plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage. You can request a call from a licensed insurance agent to compare plans from the companies they work with.
Related questions
Does Medicare pay for in-home caregivers in Oregon?
Personal care and who pays.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing in Oregon?
Care in a facility after a hospital stay.
Does Medicare cover physical therapy in Oregon?
Outpatient and at home.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Oregon?
Oregon's Medicaid options.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Home health services
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Long-term care
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Oregon Project Independence
More questions in this guide
- Does Medicare cover acupuncture in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover ambulance service in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover annual physicals in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover assisted living in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover bone density tests in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover cataract surgery in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover chiropractic care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover a colonoscopy in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover CPAP machines in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover dental care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover diabetic supplies in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover flu shots in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover hearing aids in Oregon?
- Does Medicare pay for in-home caregivers in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover mammograms in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover me when I travel or spend winters outside Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover medical marijuana in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover memory care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover mental health care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover naturopathic doctors in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover nursing home care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover oxygen therapy in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover physical therapy in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover prostate cancer screening in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover psilocybin therapy in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover skilled nursing care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover the shingles vaccine in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover transportation to medical appointments in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover vision care in Oregon?
- Does Medicare cover wheelchairs in Oregon?
Part of the guide: Learn Medicare — the Oregon starter guide · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What does homebound mean for Medicare?
Leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort, or you need help, a device or special transport to leave. Medicare.gov says you can still leave for medical care, short infrequent non-medical outings, and adult day care.
Does Medicare pay for a home health aide?
Only part-time or intermittent aide care, and only while you're also getting skilled nursing or therapy. Medicare doesn't pay for personal care when it's the only care you need.
Is there a limit on how long Medicare covers home health?
There's no set number of visits. Your doctor reviews and recertifies your plan of care periodically, and coverage continues as long as you meet the rules.
Who helps with personal care at home in Oregon?
ODHS offers Medicaid in-home services for people who qualify, and Oregon Project Independence serves some people 60 and older not on Medicaid, with sliding-scale fees. Call ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities at 1-855-673-2372.
Medicare in your Oregon county
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